Recently, I watched the French animated movie Louise by the Shore by Jean-François Laguionie. It is a charming and reflective film that follows an elderly woman who misses the last train for the season, leaving her stranded in a seaside town named Biligen. Check out more movie details and watch the trailer on the movie page!
If you had the chance to watch this movie, let’s explore the deeper meaning together.
- Release date: 15 June 2016 (Annecy International Animated Film Festival), 23 November 2016 (France)
- Director: Jean-François Laguionie
- Production company: Unafilm, JPL Films, Arte France Cinéma
- Language: French with English subtitles
Voice Cast of Louise by the Shore:
- Dominique Frot as old Louise
- Diane Dassigny as young Louise
- Antony Hickling as Tom, the parachutist
- Jean-François Laguionie as Pépère
Where can I Stream Louise by the Shore?
Louise by the Shore is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video with a subscription.
What is the Movie Louise by the Shore About?
Louise by the Shore is about an elderly woman named Louise who finds herself alone on a deserted beach, where she reflects on her life and forms a bond with a dog named Pepper while waiting for rescue.
On the surface, Louise is a fearless lady who braves surviving on a lonely island, reminiscent of other films in the survival genre like Cast Away. However, as the movie progresses, we are introduced to a talking dog and conversations with a dead sea pilot. These scenes shed light on Louise’s mental state as time goes by.
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Stranded and Alone
After enduring a relentless storm, Louise emerges from her damp house and constructs a modest shelter on the beach. Seeking solace and survival, she ventures into a nearby store to find essentials and indulge in the simple joy of trying on hats. As the days pass in her newfound shelter, Louise falls into a rhythm of daily rituals: tidying her surroundings, bathing in the sea, and meticulously chronicling her solitary life.
Despite her isolated circumstances, Louise finds moments of solace in her routine, reflected in her contentment while shore fishing and the sense of achievement derived from tending to her growing garden.
Haunting Flashbacks
She even states that she feels stronger than she did in her house before the storm. Yet, beneath her physical capabilities lies thoughts and introspection that are triggered by haunting flashbacks to a troubled past. Louise’s flashbacks show scenes of a lively redheaded girl left to live with her ominous grandmother.
As the seasons shift and Louise’s solitude deepens, her psyche becomes increasingly affected by the intrusion of these flashbacks of memories. These flashbacks seem to blur the boundaries between past and present, casting doubt in Louise as to what is real and what is imaginary.
In one flashback, she confronts the feeling of abandonment as her mother calls out to her after leaving Louise with her grandmother for an extended period.
while another vision plunges her into an existential trial, presided over by an all-animal judge and jury. In this flashback, Louise is confronted with the fact that she has forgotten her name, address, and other important personal information, raising doubt in her mental capabilities.
Furthermore, Louise is thrown deeper into despair as she recounts her childhood self befriending a dead pilot, named Tom Pierre. Tom is seen consoling Louise as a child and would scare boys away after she lured them into the forest when Louise was a teenager.
A New Canine Friend
Later in the movie, Louise gains the company of Pepper, her newfound talking dog companion. With Pepper, Louise finds a sense of peace and friendship. Their shared meals and silent companionship offer a refuge from the encroaching shadows of loneliness and doubt.
Desperate Times
Eventually, Pepper leaves Louise, and she falls deeper into despair, believing that the townspeople left her on the island because of her fading appearance. Feeling desperate, she walks into the raging waves of the ocean. After a time, Pepper comes to her rescue and saves Louise from drowning.
Newfound Hope
After this unfortunate incident, Louise gains a sense of purpose and decides to live. Also, she notices that Pepper mysteriously loses his ability to speak. Eventually, Louise realizes that she can still find joy and purpose in life, even when things seem bleak.
When tourists come back and the village welcomes her, Louise feels a sense of belonging again. She’s asked to help out with village events, and she feels like she has a purpose again. As the train brings more people, Louise knows she’s not alone anymore. With Pepper by her side, she’s ready to face whatever comes next.
What is the Meaning behind Louise by the Shore?
There are several meanings behind the movie Louise by the Shore. Among the themes of self-discovery are themes of isolation and aging, memory and reflection, resilience and survival, and interconnectedness with nature.
Self-Discovery and Resilience
First, Louise’s journey with self-discovery leads her to realize that she is more resilient than she originally thought she was. Despite being isolated, Louise proved her resilience by adapting to her new circumstances by building a shelter and finding ways to sustain herself by fishing, scavenging, and gardening.
Connection and Purpose
Along with the theme of self-discovery and resilience, when the tourists arrive back in town, Louise finds connection and purpose, symbolized by her invitation to join a village committee.
Isolation and Aging
Louise by the Shore also has themes of isolation and aging woven into the plot. The movie explores the experience of aging and the loneliness that can come with it. This is illustrated by Louise being left alone, and missing the last train. She also experienced moments of memory loss, confusion, and grief from looking at her appearance in the mirror.
Memory Loss and Mental Illness
Louise’s solitude causes her to reflect on her past as she revisits memories and dreams of her childhood and younger days. These memories are seemingly new to Louise, as there are moments where she wonders if they are real memories or just imagined.
Along with the themes of memory loss and aging, there are themes of potential mental illness. This is illustrated when Pepper begins to talk to Louise, seemingly out of the blue, and when her mind begins playing tricks on her, causing her to believe that the townspeople don’t like her anymore. Unfortunately, symptoms of memory loss can include feelings of frustration and sadness.
Interconnectedness with Nature
Lastly, the theme of interconnectedness with nature were present in the movie. This can be found through Louise’s friendship with Pepper the dog, and her contentment tending to her garden and looking out at the ocean in the mornings and evenings. Together, these scenes highlight the connection that Louise had with the natural world, emphasizing the importance of harmony with nature.
Louise by the Shore: The Animation and Soundtrack
The animation style of Louise by the Shore resembled watercolor paintings, with soft color tones throughout. The turquoise waters during the day shifted to dusty blue hues in the evenings, while the sky varied in colors according to the season and weather, often displaying a gentle peach hue at dusk.
Louise was depicted with white hair, dark glasses, and a yellow hat, shoes, and sweater, making her image distinct against the backdrop of soft colors. Pepper the dog appeared weathered, with disheveled black and white fur.
The soundtrack of Louise by the Shore incorporated various soundscape elements, such as thunder and heavy rain during the three-day storm, creating a sense of turmoil, and the loud sound of seagulls when Louise stood by the ocean, enhancing the atmosphere of the seaside setting.
My Favorite Scene
One of my favorite moments in Louise by The Shore occurs when Louise explores the bustling city center. Here, her imagination flows as she envisions a lively cityscape bustling with people strolling, shopping, and engaging in various activities like tennis. Entering a casino, she’s met with enchanting melodies from a piano player and graceful dancers taking the stage.
Louise by the Shore Recommendation
I would recommend Louise by the Shore to anyone looking for a simple movie with a deep meaning.
Overall, Louise by the Shore invites you to contemplate themes of solitude, memory, resilience, and the human connection to nature, offering multiple layers of interpretation and reflection.
What do you think?
Already seen the movie? Do you have a favorite scene? A favorite quote or message? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. And as always- keep watching!
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